Which Insurance company are you with?

[simonm]

Is anyone looking at a GPS tracking device to lower the cost of their insurance or provide for the safety of their car? If so, what vendors are people looking at?

[ConR]

damn...fully insured for $292? motorcycle insurance costs more than that....

[AdamD]

Insured Golf with RACV only $292

That's got to be a typo, surely. You don't get full comprehensive car insurance for that price in this day and age, unless it's tied up with multiple policies and special discounts.

[Brian]

That's got to be a typo, surely. You don't get full comprehensive car insurance for that price in this day and age, unless it's tied up with multiple policies and special discounts.

Negative, Adam
It all depends on the model. If you put a GT or GTI or GTD or anything resembling a performance vehicle in the name then they're going to hit you. My 118TSI Comfortline costs me $312 all up with RACQ QLD - fully loaded no extra discounts apart from being an old fart with a lot of years no claim. After quizzing them on mods, (wheels, suspension drop, chip, exhaust) they said - that'll be OK if it complies with ADRs and QLD transport regs. Effectively I'll have close to a GTI spec TSI insured for around $310 because its still a "COMFORTLINE". Go figure
Cant work out where "R" in the model equates to super-performance though, (for insurance companies) even though we know its the ultimate Golf. Wish I could afford one (or even a GTI)

[ecka]

Thats right Brian.

$292 was just over the phone with RAVC insurance for the golf TDI comfortline. We do have rating 1 and am now classified in the older age range, the age range before you become an incresed liability.

[AdamD]

Negative, Adam
It all depends on the model.

That's a great price Brian! Your age (amongst other things) must play a big part - my last car was a Honda Accord Euro, certainly not a high performance car (and I wouldn't have thought a big theft or crash risk either), and I was paying over $650.

[Ryan_R]

My 118 TSI 'Comfortline' was something like $840 per year with RACV. Sounds high, but other companies were quoting between 1500 to 3300. I increased my payable excess and opted to pay annually in advance to keep the premiums lower (as long as I don't crash in the first 3 years of ownership I'll be ahead). Rating 3, aged 21 at the time. Once I get to 25 I'm sure it'll drop.

[Brian]

My 118 TSI 'Comfortline' was something like $840 per year with RACV. Sounds high, but other companies were quoting between 1500 to 3300. I increased my payable excess and opted to pay annually in advance to keep the premiums lower (as long as I don't crash in the first 3 years of ownership I'll be ahead). Rating 3, aged 21 at the time. Once I get to 25 I'm sure it'll drop.

Ryan_R and AdamD - I'm fairly sure the age barrier is around the 35 mark. I'm 55 now and haven't had a claim in 10 years or more, but before I was 35 I couldn't get comprehensive insurance because of my claims and mostly owning sports or performance model cars. Its a pleasure to finally get some of the premiums back. One of the very few advantages of getting older but driving like an 18 year old LOL. Having said that my previous drive was a SS Commodore which I was paying around $800 only last year, hence my theory re "sports" badging. All I can say is "shop till you drop" for insurance prices that is.
Brian

[dave_r]

Insurance premiums must be random some times.

I've got an average driving history, just turned 30 and the R quotes I got a few months back were ~$800 which I got no problems with. For some stupid reason, the Polo is $50 more regardless of suburb, my name or the missus, on the street, garaged etc and costs 1/3 of the price.

[Ryan_R]

Maybe people with R's/R32's are more likely to look after their purchase than those with Polo's, or perhaps previous claim data shows that to be the case)

[masev]

With all the insurance talk, has anyone considered the implications once an APR Stage 1 tune is performed? I would assume majority of them wouldn't cover you for such a modification??

Has anyone had experience with this? Coming from someone that has never "chipped" a car....

Cheers

[simonm]

I had a long read through the NRMA PDS, and the online quoting system, and neither require you to declare any modifications (as long as the car remains roadworthy), the only time the PDS mentions modifications is when it states that they will be covered as part of your insurance.

That said, read the PDS yourself, make your own conclusions, seek legal advice, yada yada.

[AdamD]

With all the insurance talk, has anyone considered the implications once an APR Stage 1 tune is performed? I would assume majority of them wouldn't cover you for such a modification??

Has anyone had experience with this? Coming from someone that has never "chipped" a car....

Just read back a few pages in this thread...

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f112/insurance-company-you-43286-7.html#post567134

[Mr_Bob]

Having been insured with NRMA previously, they have made it clear to me that any modification must be declared,
or your insurance will be voided if discovered.
They've advised me in the past that they would not insure a vehicle that had been lowered more than 40mm, or had an aftermarket stereo over $3000
Perhaps this was due to my age at the time, or the value of the vehicle that I was driving, but modifications definately affect their decision on insurance premiums.

I have been told (in similar wording)
"if you don't declare XYZ, we have the right to void your policy in the event of a claim, on the grounds that we would never have insured you with that modification, even if the modification did not contribute to the damage in the claim"

This was when i was insured with NRMA, as they thought my stereo was over the threshold, when I placed a claim against another driver
(the other driver mounted the footpath and ended up in my work carpark, where my car was parked legally)
They tried to deny my claim against the other driver, and void my policy.

[fergus]

Guys
If anyone wants a point of reference, I've just organised my GTi 5 Door Insurance Agreed Value with Shannons. About $820 per annum inc declaring an APR upgrade.